title: Conjunctival inflammation in thrombospondin-1 deficient mouse model of Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: Lacrimal gland inflammation during autoimmune Sjögren's syndrome (SS) leads to ocular surface inflammation - Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). This condition afflicts both the cornea and conjunctiva that form the ocular surface. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) deficiency in mice results in lacrimal gland and corneal inflammation that resembles the human disease. In this study we report conjunctival pathology in this mouse model of SS. We found that TSP-1 null mice develop inflammation in the conjunctiva and associated loss of goblet cell function similar to that seen in patients with SS. Increased expression of Th1 (IFN-γ, TNF-α) and Th17 (IL-6, IL-17A) inflammatory cytokines and related transcription factors (Tbet and RORγt) were detected in TSP-1 null conjunctiva as well as their draining lymph nodes (LNs). The conjunctival inflammation was also accompanied by an increase in local lymphatic vessels. Interestingly, migration of antigen-bearing dendritic cells (DCs) from the ocular surface to the LNs was dependent on the TSP-1 available in the tissue. These results not only reveal potential immunopathogenic mechanisms underlying KCS in SS but also highlight the therapeutic potential of TSP-1.
authors.affiliation: Schepens Eye Research Institute and Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Contreras-Ruiz
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Regenfuss
authors.forename: Fayaz Ahmad
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kearns
authors.forename: Sharmila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D019700:Thrombospondin 1; C585483:Thbs1 protein, mouse